Doorcheck



June 19, 1934. D AN 1,963,687

DOORCHECK Filed Dec. 11, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 $3 4 7 A ATTORNEY IPatented June 19, 1934 1,963,687 noononsox Dewitt Tappan, Rochester, N.Y., assignor to E. C. Brown Company, Rochester, N. Y.

Application December 11, 1930, Serial No. 501,614

7 Claims.

, The present invention relates to door checks, an object thereof beingto provide a device of this character applicable to screen and otherdoors and which will function both as a door closing means and pneumaticcheck operating to permit the door to close easily and without slamming.

Another object of the invention is to provide a so-called four-waycheck, that is, one which may be used on the outside or inside of a doorand either right or left.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a door check whichis of few parts, inexpensive to manufacture, easy of application,effective in operation and not liable to derangement.,

A further object of the invention is the construction of a device whichwill function equally as well onlight or heavy doors.

And, still further objects of the invention are the provision of novelsupporting means for the door check and retaining means for the enclosedspring.

To these and other ends relating more particularly to structuraldetails, the invention consists of certain parts and combinations ofparts as will be fully set forth in the following description andparticularly defined in the appended claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrating the invention and forming apartof the specification are as follows; 7

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the door check mounted on the inside of adoor hinged to swing outwardly.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view on line 2--2,-Fig. 1.I

Fig. 3 is a sectional View online 33, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view of the split ring disc retainer.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. l but showing the-device as used on theoutside of a door openinder is a cup-shaped piston 3 of leatheror likematerial, this piston being clamped between washers 4 and 5 by nuts 6and 7 on the threaded inner end of a piston rod 8, the nut 6 abutting ashoulder which, in this instance, comprises the adjacent ends of aplurality of peripheral lugs 9- pressed outwardly from the rod, the nut7 being the adjustable or clamping member. The central portion of thewasher 4 is pressed outwardly to form a recess for receiving a packingwasher 10 of rubber or like compressible material which, ,4 due to thepressure exerted against the washers 0 4 and 5, is forcedinto'thedepressions between adjacent threads on the rod, thus forming aneffective seal and making the piston airtight around the rod. v

Within the cylinder and surrounding the rod 8 is a helical spring 11which is held in' place by a removable retainer at the outer oropen'endof the cylinder, this retainer comprising a disc 12 having a centralopening for receiving and guiding the rod 8 and an annular flange 13con- P453 formed to the curvature of a split retaining ring 14 of springwire which is seated in an annular recess 15 in the ,cylinder wall. Theopen end of the cylinder is. reinforced by being flared outwardly at 16and this construction permits a more I easy insertion of the partswithin the cylinder.

The inner end of the cylinder is supported by means of a strap or splitclamp 17 having pivotal connection about a vertical axis upon abracket18 secured by screws 19 to the face of a door 20, as in Fig. 1, or totheframe 21 above the door, as in Figs. 5 and 6, according to whichmounting of the device is desired.

The clamp 1'7 is formed, in this instance, from sheet metal andcomprises a band portion with spaced laterally turned ends 22in whichare aligned openings for receiving the pivot bolt 23, the clamp beingreinforced by segmental side flanges 24 which also extend part wayalongthe edges of the lateral extensions 22 and provide means forholding the nut 25 on the bolt 23 against turning. Substantiallydiametrically opposed ears 26 bent inwardly'from an edge of the clampengage the cylinder end 2 and thus insure a proper relative positioningof the clamp and cylinder. V v v 2 The bracket, indicated generally bythe numeral 18,]is formed from a one piece blank of sheet metal andcomprises a body portion 27 and spaced arms 28 at right angles thereto,portions 29 of the arms being struck out and bent parallel with the bodyportion to give additional bearing surface against the memberto whichthe bracket is. secured. The tapered, rounded ends of the arms 28engagebetween the ends 22 of the clamp 1 and are provided with openingsfor receiving the bolt 23. And, the arms being yieldable permit theclamp to be tightened about the cylinder without the necessity ofallowing play between the ends of the clamp and the arms.

The open end of the cylinder is supported by a bracket 30 secured byscrews 31 to the side 21 of the door frame, as in Figs. 1 and 2, inwhich event the median plane of the bracket lies in the direction of theaxis of the cylinder. Or, it is see cured to a face of the door 26, asin Figs. 5 and 6, in which event, with the door closed, it is turned atsubstantially right angles to the cylinder. "The arm 32 of the bracket30 has its outer end 33 offset upwardly so as to be cleared by thecylinder when the door is opened and the relative arrangement of theparts are as in Figs. 5 and 6.

The portion 33 of the bracket arm has an opening 34 for receiving thelaterally turned outer end 35 of the rod 8, this end of the rod alsobeing slightly offset to form a shoulder 36 which engages the under faceof the arm and holds the rod against accidental displacement, theextension 35 being free to turn in the opening 34.

In using the device on the inside of a door, either right or left, thebracket 30 is secured to the casing 21 at the hinged side of the door,as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. With the door closed, the end 33 of the rod 8is, pointed downward, hooked into the bracket. Then, with the cylinderheld level and the rod 8 drawn slightly outward, the position of thebracket 18 is marked on the door. The clamp 17 is then removed to enablethe bracket 18 to be secured to the door. The rod, if disengaged fromthe bracket 30, is again hooked thereinto, the door slightly opened, andthe cylinder end slipped into the clamp 17 which is then properlyadjusted by tightening the bolt 23.

In using the device on the outside of a door, either right or left, thebracket 30 is secured to the door at the hinge side and slightly belowthe top, in which event it is turned at right angles to the cylinder,and the bracket 18 is secured to the frame 21 above the door, thecylinder lying parallel with and slightly above the door.

Operation of the door check for either outside or inside mounting is asfollows:

Opening of the door causes the brackets 18 and 30 to swing relativelyfarther apart whereby the rod 8 draws the piston 3 outward in thecylinder 1 and effects a compression of the spring 11 between the pistonwasher 4 and the retaining disc 12, the relative angular positions ofthe cylinder and brackets changing as the clamp 17 and rod 8 turn ontheir respective pivotal connections. And, during opening of the doorair between the piston and the disc 12 is forced out through thelongitudinally arranged series of openings 37 in the cylinder wall andalso escapes through the opening in the disc 12 around the rod 8, airbeing drawn into the cylinder through a minute opening 38 in the endwall 2 and the openings 3'7 as the latter are successively passed by thepiston. These openings or air vents37 are preferably irregularly spacedand of gradually increased diameter toward the open end. ofthe-cylinder.

When the door is released, expansion of the spring 11 effects an inwardor return movement of i the piston and closing of the door, such closingbeing gradually retarded and cushioned by compression of air within thecylinder, the air escaping through a gradually reduced outlet as theopenings 37, starting with the largest one, are successively passed bythe piston, the last of the air under pressure escaping through theminute opening 38 in the end wall 2.

Whether the door is a heavy one or a light screen. door, the closing issubstantially the same as to the retarding and cushioning effectthereon, this result being obtained by the novel arrangement of theseries of air vents 37' which accommodate the variable discharging ofthe air.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with two hinged members one of which is a door and theother a door casing, a door check including a cylinder, a piston and apiston rod guided for axial movement in the cylinder, a bracket securedto one of said members, a combined pivotal connection and clampingmember whereby one end of the cylinder is removably supported by thebracket to swing about an axis at right angles to that of the cylinder,a bracket secured to the other of said members and having an opening, alateral extension on said rod rotatable in said opening, and a shoulderon said extension for engaging said last named bracket in the manner andfor the purpose set forth.

2. The combination with two hinged members one of which is a door andthe other a door casing, of a door check including a cylinder, a pistonand a piston rod guided for axial movement in the cylinder, a combinedbracket and clamping member secured to one of said members, a pivotalconnection between said hinged member and said combined bracket andclamping member whereby one end of the cylinder is removably supportedby the bracket to swing about an axis at right angles to that of thecylinder, a bracket secured to the other of said members, an arm on suchbracket and an offset portion at the outer end of such arm, the offsetportion having an opening, and a lateral extension on said rod rotatablein said opening, said offset portion permitting the cylinder to swingover the other portion of the arm.

3. In a door check, a cylinder and a support for one end of the cylindercomprising a bracket including an arm, a strap for removably receivingthe cylinder comprising a band portion, spaced laterally extending endsfor receiving said arm, a bolt extending through said arm and said strapextensions, a nut on said bolt, and segmental flange portions bentoutwardly from said band portion and continued along the edges of saidextensions, substantially as set forth said bolt holding said strapclamped to said cylinder and forming a pivot for said cylinder to swingon said arm.

l. The combination with two hinged members one of which is a door andthe other a door casing, of a door check including a horizontallyarranged cylinder, a piston, a piston rod, a support secured to one ofsaid members on which the outer end of said rod is mounted to swingabout a vertical axis, and a support for the other end of the cylinderincluding a bracket secured to the other of said members, a strap inwhich the end of the cylinder is removably received, spaced laterallyextending ends on said strap, means limiting relative axial movement ofthe cylinder and strap to properly position the strap, and a pivot boltextending through said bracket and said strap extensions.

5. A door check in accordance with claim 3 including ears bent inwardlyto engage the end of the cylinder.

6. In a door check, a cylinder, a strap engaging about an end of thecylinder and including spaced laterally turned ends, a bracket formed ofsheet material and comprising a body portion, spaced yieldable armsturned outwardly from the body portion with their ends in engagementwith said strap extensions, a pivot bolt extending through movablyholding the disc in the cylinder, and a coiled compression springsurrounding the rod and arranged between the piston and said disc, saidspring operating to hold the disc against said retaining means.

DEWITT TAPPAN.

